South Africa's Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) has announced several levy changes, including increases in seafreight charges.

Following a PPECB board meeting it was decided that citrus will receive an inspection levy increase of 8.7 per cent, while container inspection charges will increase to approximately 9.6 per cent.

Sea levies will increase by an average of 9.6 per cent subject to levy rounding. Where feasible, sea levies will be charged per container as opposed to pallet. Converted container rates will be based on 23 standard pallets.

Deciduous products will receive no inspection levy increase, as their increases are set for October 1, 2009, while all other PPECB levies will increase by an average of 7.7 per cent subject to levy rounding.

Luvuyo Mabombo, PPECB chief executive, said: “The PPECB’s specific basket of services are subject to increases in excess of inflation. Every effort was taken to limit levy increases below inflation as reflected in the actual levy increases passed on to industry.

“It must also be noted that there is uncertainty surrounding the potential impact that the world recession may have on volumes, which could impact negatively on the PPECB’s expected income for 2009-10.”

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